Designing the packaging for “Abbey Road”

Pages: 1 2

Promoting the album

When Los Angeles author Robert Landau first published his book about classic rock ‘n’ roll billboards of the Sunset Strip, he made his readers an offer: pass along any info on the whereabouts of Paul McCartney’s head and you’ll get a free signed copy of his book. As the story goes, a billboard featuring the Beatles walking across Abbey Road was constructed on the Strip in 1969. Shortly after its construction, some prankster climbed atop the structure and cut Paul’s head off.

More than four decades later, that prankster, now in his 60s, contacted Landau. “He took it when he was 16, and it was still hanging in his living room,” joked Landau, who traveled to the man’s home in the San Fernando Valley to pose with Paul. […]

When Landau was 16, he remembers walking down the road from his home, a block above Tower Records. “And there were the Beatles,” he said. “Sixteen-feet tall, walking across Abbey Road.”

From SEE: 12 Classic Rock ‘N’ Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip | WEHOville, August 8, 2013

PAUL’S HEAD FOR SALE

A FEW days ago, all of Hollywood was talking about a groovy Beatle billboard which is strategically placed on the world famous Sunset Strip. Today they’re talking about it, for reasons other than the fact that it’s very groovy.

The billboard is a blow up of the Abbey Road cover and shows the boys walking across the street, sans printing. The figures of The Beatles extend up over the billboard, in cut-out fashion. And, would you believe, someone has actually crawled up the billboard and sawed Paul’s head off.

At first glance, a person doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry. In view of all the recent rumors about Paul, the sight does have its humorous overtones. On the other hand, it makes any Beatle fan furious to have something and someone so beautiful defaced. Er, deheaded? … See you next! Janey Milstead

From Fabulous208 – January 31, 1970

Pages: 1 2

Going further

The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years

With greatly expanded text, this is the most revealing and frank personal 30-year chronicle of the group ever written. Insider Barry Miles covers the Beatles story from childhood to the break-up of the group.

Buy on Amazon

Solid State: The Story of "Abbey Road" and the End of the Beatles

Acclaimed Beatles historian Kenneth Womack offers the most definitive account yet of the writing, recording, mixing, and reception of Abbey Road. In February 1969, the Beatles began working on what became their final album together. Abbey Road introduced a number of new techniques and technologies to the Beatles' sound, and included "Come Together," "Something," and "Here Comes the Sun," which all emerged as classics.

Buy on Amazon